As the Nigerian army makes another valiant effort to contain renewed onslaught by Boko Haram insurgents, the chief of army staff, Tukur Buratai, has in a widely circulated new operational guidelines warns Nigerian army commanders to desist from fleeing in the wake of Boko Haram offensive or face grave consequences.

The warning came in the wake of violent campaigns by Boko Haram insurgents which claimed lives of officers and soldiers as well as the confiscation or destruction of equipment.

Buratai said, the Nigerian army will no more condone a situation in which units abandon their positions cowardly in the face of Boko Haram incursion noting that such action portrays the soldiers in the ream of cowards

“It also has the potential to rubbish all the laudable gains made in the war against Boko Haram,” he said.

Buratai in the 180 worded correspondence said, any soldier who abandons his position in the face of enemy’s fire, leading to avoidable death of troops and loss of equipment will be subjected to harsh punishments as enumerated in the armed forces Act.

“All should be reminded that the law recommended any officer or soldier found guilty of cowardly behavior ‘shall on conviction by a court martial be liable to suffer death or any less punishment provided by the Act,’ depending on the circumstances of the case,” he said.